How to Become A Patient Care Technician in Iowa
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Iowa employs approximately 22,670 workers in the related “Nursing Assistants” category (SOC 31-1131), with a median annual wage of $39,350 1. The state’s concentration of jobs in this category is 1.56x the national average, indicating strong regional demand. Nationally, employment in this category is projected to grow 2.3% from 2024 to 2034, with about 204,100 openings per year 2. This page covers how to become a patient care technician in Iowa, including certification options, training programs, and salary data.
A note on salary data: The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not track patient care technician salaries as a separate category. The wage figures on this page are based on the closest matching BLS classification: Nursing Assistants (SOC 31-1131). Actual patient care technician earnings may vary.
Quick Answers About Becoming A Patient Care Technician in Iowa
How do I become a patient care technician in Iowa? Iowa requires credentials such as Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) (Nurse’s Aide). The licensing authority is the Iowa Department of Inspections & Appeals - Division of Health Facilities 3. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.
How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.
Do I need a license in Iowa? Yes. Iowa has licensing or registration requirements for patient care technicians. The Iowa Department of Inspections & Appeals - Division of Health Facilities oversees licensing 3. See the licensing section below for details.
What do patient care technicians earn in Iowa? The BLS does not track patient care technician wages separately. Based on the related “Nursing Assistants” category, the median annual wage in Iowa is $39,350, with entry-level wages around $35,620 and experienced workers earning $47,980 or more 1.
At a Glance
- Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
- Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
- Licensing authority: Iowa Department of Inspections & Appeals - Division of Health Facilities
- Median wage (Iowa): $39,350 per year (based on related “Nursing Assistants” category) 1
- Exam requirement: Third-party exam required
Patient Care Technician License Requirements in Iowa
The Iowa Department of Inspections & Appeals - Division of Health Facilities oversees patient care technician licensing in Iowa 3.
License Types
| License | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) (Nurse’s Aide) | A certified nursing assistant (CNA) (Nurse’s Aide) provides personal care including feeding, bathing, and assisting patients with personal hygiene. |
Additional Requirements
- Exam: Third-party exam required
License information sourced from CareerOneStop 4.
Patient Care Technician Wages by Metro Area in Iowa
Patient Care Technician Wages by Metro Area in Iowa
Note: The BLS does not track patient care technician wages separately. The data below is based on the closest matching category: Nursing Assistants (SOC 31-1131).
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), nursing assistants wages in Iowa vary by metro area.
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage | Avg. Annual Wage | Entry Level (10th pctile) | Experienced (90th pctile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha | 7,740 | $40,020 | $43,020 | $37,750 | $49,760 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | 4,660 | $43,940 | $42,640 | $35,420 | $50,630 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | 2,220 | $38,740 | $40,780 | $36,100 | $46,810 |
| Cedar Rapids | 1,740 | $39,110 | $41,100 | $35,350 | $49,810 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | 1,440 | $38,930 | $40,660 | $35,790 | $46,560 |
| Iowa City | 1,310 | $39,330 | $41,730 | $35,060 | $50,630 |
| Dubuque | 1,010 | $41,580 | $41,790 | $36,850 | $50,430 |
| Sioux City | 930 | $38,940 | $41,360 | $36,410 | $48,090 |
| Ames | 770 | $43,540 | $42,980 | $37,010 | $48,920 |
Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.
Top Metros for Patient care technicians in Iowa
The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest patient care technician employment within Iowa according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).
| Metro Area | Employment | Median Annual Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | 4,660 | $43,940 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island | 2,220 | $38,740 |
| Cedar Rapids | 1,740 | $39,110 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls | 1,440 | $38,930 |
| Iowa City | 1,310 | $39,330 |
Explore More Trades in Iowa
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the job outlook for patient care technicians in Iowa? Iowa employs approximately 22,670 workers in the related “Nursing Assistants” category 1. Nationally, employment in this category is projected to grow 2.3% from 2024 to 2034 2.
Can I work as a patient care technician in Iowa with an out-of-state license? Contact the Iowa Department of Inspections & Appeals - Division of Health Facilities for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.
What training programs are available in Iowa? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Iowa.
How much do patient care technicians earn in Iowa compared to the national average? The median annual wage for patient care technicians in Iowa is $39,350 (based on the related “Nursing Assistants” category), which is $180 below the national median of $39,530 according to BLS data 1.
Citations
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
References
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Iowa Department of Inspections & Appeals - Division of Health Facilities - Licensing Information: https://dia.iowa.gov/health-facilities/certified-nursing-assistants ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
| Data | Provider | Vintage |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | May 2025 |
| Employment Projections | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2024-2034 |
| Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System | National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) | 2024 |
| College Scorecard (school-level outcomes) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release |
| College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release (updated 2026-06-12) |
| Occupational licensing requirements | CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2026-02-22) |
| Registered apprenticeship programs | CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2025-10-25) |
| O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones) | U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.) | O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13) |